Beverage dispensing apparatus



Oct. 4, 1938. v. R. BENNETT ET A1. ,2,132,011`

BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 1'7, 1956 INVENTOR.l GILBERT G. Buowle V. RAY .BENNETT www offM- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS California Application July* 17, 1936, Serial No. 91,132

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to a pressure reduction device for use in a liquid conduit, and more especially to a device of this character -Well adapted for use in beverage dispensing devices .such as used for dispensing beer orlike carbonated liquids.

On the operation of the useful apparatus for dispensing beer or the like, the degree of pressure under which the beverage is stored is limF ited by the fact that the velocity with which it leaves the dispensing valve determines the character or appearance thereof in the nal container. When beer is dispensed it must be .done gently so as to avoid excessive turbulence, upon the degree of which depends the resultant head. The ability to retain a maximum head depends not only upon the number and ,size of individual gas bubbles formed as a result of .a pressure decrease incident to escape from the dispenser, but also upon rarity of the opportunities oifered the bubbles to unite with each other. Since the number of such opportunities depends upon the turbulence, it is highly desirable to maintain this factor at a minimum value.

For the above reasons, many installations dis pense beer at pressures in the neighborhood of seven or eight pounds, and thus avoid Wild flow of beer from the valve. It is desirable to utilize higher pressures if it is also possible to dispense Without turbulence.

The pressure reduction device which forms a part of our invention is of such character that pressures in the neighborhood of twenty pounds per square inch may be employed with an eiciency in pressure reduction such that turbulence is substantially eliminated.

Accordingly, among the objects of our invention are: To provide a beverage dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing under pressure with substantially complete pressure reduction, under conditions which substantially eliminate turbulence during such reduction to provide a pressure reduction device which is simple in construction and assembly and lends itself to production methods; and to provide a pressure reduction device which may be quickly replaced in service.

Other objects of our invention Will be apparent or4 will be speciiically pointed out in the description forming a part of this specication, but We do not limit ourselves to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted withinthe scope of the claims.

I against the necked down portion I4.

(Cl. 13S-40) 1n the dra-Wing:

Figure l is an elevational view, partially sehematic, of :a conventional 'beve-rage dispensing apparatus, modined by the pressure reducticm device Of our invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view, partially in section, lthrough the pressure `reduction device and its conduit adapter:

Figure :.3 is a partial plan View of a .Sheet of material prior to fabrication to form a part .of the device;

Figur-e 4 ,a sectional view .on the line 44 of Figure 2; .and

,Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure .3, showing diiferent spacing projections.

.Referring to :Figure 2, -we have illustrated a beverage outlet providing a delivery conduit I, conveniently Supported as a cabinet wall 12. and'having attached thereto a valve 4, such as a beer valve.. The beverage is supplied from a supply conduit .5, which is connected to a supply tank 16 through cooling coils l, `a .source of pressure 9 being connected to the tank. Between the supply conduit and the delivery conduit there is provided a pressure reduction device I0, Which, as more clearly understood by reference to the remaining igures, preferably comprises an adapter II internally threaded, as at I2, to receive the threaded end of the delivery conduit The adapter provides a barrel section I5, having an internal shoulder I6 formed at one end thereof, and is externally threaded, as at I1, for connection to the supply conduit 5, as by a iitting I9.

Received Within the barrel I 5 so as to abut the shoulder I6, is a pressure reducing cylinder 20. In the preferred construction the cylinder 20 is formed by Winding a band 2| of thin metal, such as shim stockgabout a cylindrical core 22, the band having previously been indented over its area to form spacing projections or humps 23, as shown in Figure 3. The cylinder so formed provides a substantially continuous spiral area in cross-section, through Which the liquid may pass, the spacing being maintained by the projections 23. The core 22 is preferably extended to provide a tapered or streamline termination 24 thereto, which We have found to eliminate otherwise present turbulence. The band material is preferably of a slightly resilient character, so that when inserted in the barrel I5 it tends to expand and maintain its longitudinal position therein. It is evident therefore that this spiral reducer may be used in any wstraight section of VThe cylinder 2S was formed onl a brass core 22,

one-eighth inch in diameter, using shim stock of .003 inch thickness, two inches wide and approximately thirty-six inches long, the indentations 23 providing a .005 inch spacing.

In observing the action of the device underY actual operating conditions in a glass tube, it appears that the beer tends to adhere to the surface of the shim stock and comes out the exhaust side of the wrapped cylinder without apparent turbulence, though under as much as twenty pounds pressure at the entry point. In this regard it may be mentioned that, without the provision of a streamlined termination 24 to the core 22, slight turbulence at the center of the outgoing' stream was observed.. We do not, however, desire to be limited to the use of the termination 24 as the central turbulence created by its emission is not suiiicient to necessitate reduced inlet pressure.

Through the use of a construction of. the above character and the consequent elimination of turbulence in the escaping beer, the carbon dioxide remains absorbed for a substantial period of time, providing a iine creamy headfon the dispensed liquid for a corresponding period.

`While the construction described is well adapted-for carrying out the objects of the invention, it is understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the invention, which is considered to include all Such modiiications as lie 'within the scope of the claims.

One of such modiiications, for example, may take the form of the device shown in Figure 5. Here the projections 23, instead of being of spherical contour, are elongated, and preferably arranged at an angle to the liquid flow. By changing the angle of the projections in relation to the iiow, more or less turbulence may be imparted to the emitted stream, and the amount of turbulence obtained will remain constant. Y Thus my device not-only reduces turbulence, fbut controls it to any predetermined value. Other shapes of projections to produce the desired result .will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a pressure reduction device comprising a cylindrical rod, a band of indented sheet metal wound in a spiral therearound to form a iluid conduit of spiral cross-section, said rod projecting beyond the exit end of said conduit and being formed to prevent turbulence.

2. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a conduit, a pressure reduction device therein comprising a cylindrical rod, a band of sheet metal wound in a spiral therearound, and having means integral therewith for spacing the successivelayers of the band.

3. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a conduit, a pressure reduction device therein comprising a cylindrical rod, a band of sheet metalwound in a spiral therearound, said rod projectingbe- 

